Systems and methods for breathing exercise regimens to promote ischemic preconditioning

• US 20040134492A1
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lifewaves International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lifewaves International, Inc.
• Inventors: Dardik, Irving I.
• Granted Patent: US 7,338,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods for promoting ischemic preconditioning in individuals are provided. Ischemic preconditioning is provided by exercise treatments. The exercise treatments consist of breathing exercise regimens with breathing sequences of oxygenating and non-oxygenating phases co-ordinated with stress-relaxation cycles. The breathing sequences are designed to induce periods of ischemia. The individualized exercise treatments can induce optimal number of periods of ischemia separated by suitable intervals to provide effective ischemic preconditioning.

Claims

1. A method of is chemically preconditioning an individual, said method comprising subjecting said individual to an exercise treatment according to a breathing exercise regimen, said breathing exercise regimen comprising:

at least one stress-relaxation cycle; and

at least one breathing cycle co-ordinated with said stress-relaxation cycle to induce at least one period of ischemia.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising inducing said individual to breathe in accordance with said breathing exercise.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said inducing comprises providing said individual with said breathing exercise regimen using a passive output device selected from a group consisting of a visual device, an auditory device, a tactile device, and any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said inducing comprises providing said individual with said breathing exercise regimen using an active output device selected from a group consisting of a breathing machine, a respirator, a heart-lung machine, and any combination thereof.

5. A method for generating the breathing exercise regimen of claim 1, said method comprising:

monitoring at least one physiological parameter of said individual indicative of ischemia;

analyzing said at least one parameter to generate said breathing exercise regimen that is designed to induce at least one period of ischemia.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said monitoring comprises monitoring at least one physiological parameter selected from a group consisting of a heart rate, a heart rate variability, a heart wave shape, a blood oxygen saturation level, a protein kinase C concentration, a nitric oxide concentration, and concentrations of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase, catalese, and gluthathione peroxidase.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said analyzing generates said breathing exercise regimen that promotes ischemic preconditioning of at least one type of body tissue selected from the group consisting of myocardial tissue, brain tissue, lung tissue, kidney tissue, skeletal, skeletal-muscle tissue, and any combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein said analyzing generates said breathing exercise regimen that comprises a sequence of at least one breathing cycle coordinated with at least one stress-relaxation cycle of a first duration, and wherein said at least one breathing cycle comprises:

at least one exhalation of a second duration; and

at least one inhalation of a third duration.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said analyzing generates said at least one breathing cycle that further comprises at least one pause of a fourth duration.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein said analyzing further comprises co-ordinating said at least one breathing cycle with said at least one stress-relaxation cycle to induce said at least one period of ischemia for a fifth duration.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said fifth duration depends on said first, second, third, and fourth durations and on a varying level of stress in said stress-relaxation cycle, and wherein said analyzing further comprises designing said fifth duration so that biochemical and cellular chemistries that promote ischemic preconditioning are produced during said ischemic period.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said varying level of stress represents superimposed stress due to at least one source that is selected from a group of sources consisting of aerobic physical activity, anaerobic physical activity, heart wave activity, internal body functions, internal circadian wave activity, and any combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said individual has an internal circadian wave activity having a period, and wherein said analysis generates said exercise breathing regimen that is synchronized with said circadian wave and such that said first, second, third, forth, and fifth durations are designed to cause said biochemical and cellular chemistries to entrain on said circadian wave so that said ischemic preconditioning is effective at later times that are multiples of said circadian period.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein said analyzing generates said breathing regimen wherein first duration is greater than sum of said second and fourth durations.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein said analyzing generates said breathing regimen wherein first duration is comparable to sum of said second and fourth durations.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein said analyzing generates said breathing regimen wherein first duration is smaller than sum of said second and fourth durations.

17. The method of claim 5 wherein said analyzing generates said breathing exercise regimen that comprises:

at least one oxygenating phase of breathing states selected from the group consisting of an inhalation, a pause, a hold, and any combination thereof, said oxygenating phase corresponding to a first period during which blood is oxygenated;

at least one non-oxygenating phase of breathing states selected from the group of states consisting of an exhalation, a pause, a hold, and any combination thereof, said non-oxygenating phase corresponding to a second period during which said which blood is not oxygenated; and

said phases are co-ordinated with said at least one stress-relaxation cycle.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said analyzing generates said breathing exercise regimen wherein during said at least one non-oxygenating phase said individual'"'"'s blood oxygen saturation level decreases below an ischemic threshold for at least one period of ischemia.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said analyzing generates said breathing exercise regimen wherein said at least one ischemic period is designed to produce biochemical and cellular chemistries that promote ischemic preconditioning.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said analyzing generates said breathing exercise regimen wherein said at least one ischemic period depends on a varying level of stress in said stress-relaxation cycle.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said varying level of stress represents superimposed stress due to at least one source that is selected from a group of sources consisting of aerobic physical activity, anaerobic physical activity, heart wave activity, internal body functions, internal circadian wave activity, and any combination thereof.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said individual has an internal circadian wave activity that has a period and wherein said analyzing generates said breathing exercise regimen with said at least one period of ischemia designed to cause said biochemical and cellular chemistries to entrain on said circadian wave so that said ischemic preconditioning is effective at later times that are multiples of said circadian period.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein said analyzing generates said breathing exercise regimen wherein said at least one period of ischemia is greater than said first duration.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein said analyzing generates said breathing exercise regimen wherein said at least one period of ischemia is comparable to said first duration.

25. The method of claim 17 wherein said analyzing generates said breathing exercise regimen wherein said at least one period of ischemia is smaller than said first duration.

26. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling an apparatus for providing an exercise treatment to promote ischemic preconditioning in an individual, said treatment using a breathing exercise regimen, wherein said apparatus comprises:

at least one monitor to monitor at least one physiological parameter indicative of ischemia;

an analyzer coupled to said at least one monitor, wherein said analyzer analyzes said at least one parameter and generates said breathing exercise regimen that is designed to induce at least one period of ischemia; and

wherein said instructions comprise;

instructions to monitor said at least one physiological parameter;

instructions to analyze said at least one physiological parameter.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26 wherein said instructions to analyze comprise instructions to determine said breathing exercise regimen.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, further comprising instructions for communication over links connected to said apparatus wherein said links comprise an electronic network selected from a group consisting of local area networks, wireless networks, wired networks, wide area networks, the Internet and any combination thereof.

29. A method of exercise comprising:

varying an exertion in an exercise subject between a peak exertion and a valley exertion;

periodically regulating the oxygen intake of the subject;

recording a heart rate of the subject during the exertion; and

analyzing the heart rate to determine a breath regulation sequence.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising providing information concerning the breath regulation sequence to the subject.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising providing audio information concerning the breath regulation sequence to the subject.

32. The method of claim 30 further comprising providing video information concerning the breath regulation sequence to the subject.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein the regulating comprises decreasing an oxygen supply available to the subject.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein the regulating comprises increasing an oxygen supply available to the subject.

35. The method of claim 29 wherein the varying the exertion comprises varying the exertion using weight training.